Music holding lyre for a musical instrument



United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee MUSIC HOLDING LYRE FOR 'A MUSICAL Herbert L.Johnston Columbia City, Indiana 702,633 Feb. 2, 1968 Nov. 10, 1970Plasti-Music Company, Inc.

Evansville, Indiana a corporation of Indiana INSTRUMENT 11 Claims, 11Drawing Figs.

US. Cl.....

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,329,661 2/1920 Hansen...24/66 1,539,042 5/1925 Dennis 248/443 2,312,436 3/1943 Oldham 24/662,518,157 8/1950 Malpas 248/453 2,915,849 12/1959 Johnston 248/4433,365,164 l/1968 Engels 248/443 2,879,568 3/1959 Killen 24/67.5

Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Attorney-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich,Verbeck and Wagner ABSTRACT: A music holding lyre for a musicalinstrument comprising a clamping mechanism especially constructed for24/67.5, 248/453 Int. Cl. G10g s/oo Field of Search holding either oneor more paper sheets of music or a music holder of the type including agenerally flat rigid supporting member for hingedly supporting sheets ofmusic and having projecting means projecting from opposite surfacesthereof, and novel mounting means for mounting the lyre to a musicalinstrument.

1 MUSIC HOLDING LYRE FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION lyre" and will usually be referred to in that mannerhereinafter. Such a device generally comprises a clamping mechanism andmounting means for mounting the clamping mechanism on a musicalinstrument.

In a patent to Lawrence B. Johnston, US. Pat. No. 2,915,849, issued Dec.8, 1959, for a Music Holder", there is disclosed a music holder whichcomprises a series of trans parent sheet music holding envelopestop-hinged to a generally rigid supporting member which is supported bya clamping portion of a lyre. The lyre comprises a face plate adapted toengage one of the two opposite broad surfaces of the supporting memberand the face plate is provided with apertures to receive meansprojecting from one of said surfaces. Associated with the face plate isa pair of spring-actuated prongs adapted to press against the otheropposite sur-.

face to hold the supporting member against the face plate. Thecombination of such a conventional lyre and a sheet music holder of theabove mentioned .type has proved to be widely accepted in the musicindustry, principally for use in marching bands.

While such a combination gives efficient service in many applications,under the demands of present day fast-step marching band choreography,there is a tendency for sheets of music or for the supporting member ofa music holder to become dislodged from and to shake free from the lyreduring shaking or rocking movements of the musical instrument. There isa need for an improved lyre to securely hold the sheets (or sheet) ofmusic or supporting member of a music holder under these conditions.

SUMMARY It is the object of this invention to provide an improved lyre,to meet the above stated need, comprising an improved clamping mechanismwhich is adapted to hold securely the music in various forms, such as asingle sheet, multiple sheets, a march size music book or a supportingmember of a music holder of the above-mentioned type.

It is a further object to provide a novel mounting means for mountingthe clamping mechanism to a musical instrument.

It is one feature of this invention that the improved clamping mechanismis adapted to hold the supporting member of a music holder in suchmanner as to substantially eliminate any tendency of the supportingmember to become dislodged from or to shake free from the lyre. To thisend, the improved clamping mechanism is adapted to generally flatlyengage and to be biased against both opposite flat surfaces of thesupporting member, and his adapted to cooperate with the projectionsprojecting from both opposite broad surfaces of the supporting member torestrain the supporting member from rotating, tilting or slipping withrespect to the clamping mechanism.

It is another feature of this invention that the improved clampingmechanism instead may be used to securely hold one or more ordinarymusic sheets, either unbound or bound into an open-lying booklet.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novelmeans for mounting thelyre to a musical instrument, said mounting means being adapted toaccommodate itself to various stan- In order to acquaint those skilledin the art with the manner of practicing this invention, there will bedescribed, with the aid of the annexed drawings, the presently preferredembodiment of this invention.

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. l'is a back elevational view of a music holding lyre embodying theprinciples of this invention, comprising a clamping mechanism andmounting means for removably mounting the clamping mechanism to amusical instrument having a cylindrical portion;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the lyre of FIG. 1;

FIG.'3 is a left side elevational view of the lyre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective fragmentary detail of the clampingmechanism of the lyre of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective fragmentary detail of the mountingmeans for the lyre of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective fragmentary detail of alternativemounting means which may be used in place of the mounting means of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective fragmentary detail of yet another formof mounting means which may be used in place of that of FIG. 5, certainportions being broken away;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a music holder of the type which thelyre of FIG. I is adapted to hold, comprising a supporting member and aplurality of sheet members top-hinged to the supporting member;

FIG. 9 is a back elevational fragmentary detail of the clamp-' ingmechanism of the lyre of FIG. 1, holding the supporting member of themusic holder of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational fragmentary detail corresponding to FIG.9; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical'sectional fragmentary detail taken substantiallyalong section line 11-11 of FIG. 9, looking in the direction indicatedby the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering FIGS. 1 through 5,there is illustrated a lyre 20,

which embodies the principles of this invention, comprising a clampingmechanism 22 and mounting means 24 for mounting the clamping mechanism22 to a musical instrument (not shown), such as a clarinet, having agenerally cylindrical portion.

The portion music stand 20 is adapted to hold a music holder 30, whichis illustrated in FIGS. 8 through I], comprising a generally flat rigidsheetlikc supporting member 32 and a plurality of sheet members 34top-hinged to the supporting member 32 by hinge means 36. The sheetmembers 34 represent paper sheets but instead there could be transparentsheet-protecting envelopes adapted to contain paper sheets, as is known.The supporting member 32, which may be made of molded plastic or of someother suitable material, has pairs of projecting means 360 and 38a,projecting from one generally flat surface 400 and corresponding pairsof projecting members 36b and 38b projecting from the opposite flatsurface 40b, all of which projections are adjacent one edge portion 42of the supporting member 32. The supporting member 32 may haveadditional projecting means 44 projecting downwardly from the middle ofedge portion 42.

As indicated principally in FIGS. 1 through 4, the clamping mechanism 22of the lyre 20 comprises a back gripping member 50, which has a grippingportion 52 and a handle portion 54, and a front gripping member 56,which has a gripping portion 58 and a handle portion 60. The grippingportion 52 of the back gripping member 50, which has the generalappearance of a stylized lyre, has a vertical center element 62, a pairof curved side elements 64, a base 66 connected with the elements 62 and64, an upper crossbar 68 interconnecting the elements 62 and 64, andside whorls 70 continuing from the respective side elements 64. A pairof apertures 72 thus are defined in this gripping portion 52. Thegripping portion 58 of the front gripping member 56, which has a generalappearance rudimentarily similar to the appearance of the grippingportion 52 of the back gripping member 50 (but for the whorls 70) hasapair of closely spaced vertical rib elements 74, a pair of curved sideelements 76, a base 78 connecting the rib elements 74 and the elements76, and an upper cross bar 80 interconnecting the rib elements 74 andthe elements 76. A pair of apertures 82 thus are defined in thisgripping portion 58 and apertures 82 and 72 of the two gripping membersare of the same configuration.

A generally flatgripping surface 84 is above the base 66 on the insideof the gripping portion 52 of the back gripping member 50. This grippingsurface 84 is recessed so as to form a shelf 86, as best shown in FIGS.3 and 4. A recess 88 continuing the gripping surface 84 is formeddownwardly from the middle portion of the shelf 86, as shown in FIG. 4.A rib 90 which is interrupted by the recess 88 is provided on the insideof the base 66 just beneath the shelf 86. A pair of laterally spacedconcave bearing seats 92 are formed in the inside of the base 66 beneaththe lateral rib 90, as best shown in FIG, 4.

A generally flat gripping surface 94 is provided on the inside of thegripping portion 58 of the front gripping member 56, as best shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. A pair of laterally spaced rocker bearing means or studs96 are provided on the inside of the lower base 78, as best seen in FIG;4. These rocker bearing means 96 are spaced so as to mate with thebearing seats 92 in the base 66 of the back gripping member 50. Theinside surface 98 of the handle portion 60 of the front gripping member56 is offset outwardly with respect to the gripping surface 94, as bestshown in FIG. 3.

The gripping members 50 and 56 are assembled in opposed relationshipwith the bearing seats 92 receiving the rockerbearing means 96. Theapertures 72 then become aligned with the apertures 82. The assembly ofthe gripping members 50 and 56 may be effected by means of a pair ofclamping spring means 100. Each clamping spring means 100 is generallyC- shaped and has an end 102 and a knuckled end 104 carrying an integraltab 106 (FIG. 4). If desired, end 102 may also be made a knuckled endlike end 104. Laterally spaced seats 108a (FIG. 11) are provided in theoutside of the base 66 of the back gripping member 50 to receive theends 102 of the clamping spring means 100. Beginning at the seats 108aand extending downwardly, a pair of laterally spaced grooves or recesses110a are provided in the outside of the base 66 of the back grippingmember 50 to receive a part of the clamping spring means 100. Laterallyspaced seats 108b (FIG. 11) are provided in the outside of the base 78of the front gripping member 56 to receive the knuckled ends 104 of theclamping spring means 100. Beginning at the seats 108k and extendingdownwardly, a pair of laterally spaced grooves or recesses 11Gb areprovided in the outside of the base 78 of the front gripping member 56to receive a part of the clamping spring means 100.

When the gripping members 50 and 56 are held together, the clampingspring means may be snapped into place so as to embrace the rockerbearing means 96, as shown by FIGS. and II, and so as to engage therespective gripping portions 52 and 58 and thereby to bias thesegripping portions 52 and 58 together. The tabs 106 permit the clampingspring means to be withdrawn if desired by means of needle-nosed pliersor similar implement. The handle portion 60 of the front gripping member56 serves as a thumb tab for opening the clamping mechanism 22. It willbe seen that the springs 100 serve the dual purpose of urging thegripping members 50 and 56 together and also of securing the grippingmembers in assembled relation, with the help of the fulcrum means 92 and96.

The rocker-bearing means 96 and the associated sockets 92 constitute thepreferred form of fulcrum means for the gripping members 50 and 56 forthey pennit rocking movement with a minimum of friction. The grippingportions 52 and 58 are pressed together by the springs 100 and are drawnapart by pressing the handle portions 54 and 60 toward each other. Aswill be understood by those skilled in the art, a hinge pin connectionsupplemented by a torsion spring could be used, but it is notasadvantageous.

While the lyre is constructed to securely hold a support member, such as32 (FIG. 8), of a music holder which carries many sheets of music andfrequently in clear plastic envelopes there are occasions when amusician may want to have the lyre hold a single sheet of music. Whilethe sheet could be rested on the shelf 86 (FIG. 4) and gripped by theupper portions of gripping members 50 and 56, this invention providesyet a better way of securing such a sheet as may be understood with theaid of FIG. 3. It may be noted from FIG. 3 that the projecting rib 90generally engages the base 78 of the front gripping member 56 when thepair of gripping members 50 and 56 are in engagement, or substantiallyin engagement, under the action of the springs 100. One or more suchsheets 110 of paper or light cardboard, which are shown in dotted linesin FIG. 3, may be rested upon the rocker bearing means 96 and be pressedby the rib 90 against the base 78 of the back gripping member 56, upperportions of the respective gripping surfaces 84 and 94 also comingtogether to engage the sheets 110 as well. The rib 90 is located at alevel where the ends of C-shaped springs are exerting their forceagainst gripping members 50 and 56 and a very strong gripping action ispro- 22 is adapted to generally flatly engage the flat opposite sides40a and 40b of the supporting member 32 of the music holder 30, becausethe rocker bearing means, or studs, 96 are of such length that the innergripping surfaces 84 and 94 of the gripping members, when separated soas to be parallel, are then spaced apart a distance corresponding to thethickness of the supporting member 32. Thus, when the supporting member32 is inserted within the clamping mechanism 22, as shown in FIGS. 9through 11, the lower edge 42 of member 32 rests on shelf 86, the recess88 receives the downwardly projecting means 44 of member 32, thegripping surface 84 of the back gripping member 50 generally flatlyengages and is biased against flat side 40a of the supporting member 32,the apertures 72 receive the projecting means 36a, and the whorls 70 attheir peripheries engage the projecting means 38a. Also the grippingsurface 94 of the front gripping member 56 generally flatly engages andis biased against flat side 40b of the supporting member 32, and theapertures 82 receive the projecting means 36b. The apertures 72, thewhorls 70, and the apertures 82 cooperate with the respective projectingmeans 36a, 38a, and 36b to restrain the supporting member from rotating,tilting and slipping with respect to the clamping mechanism 22, anddownward projection 44 in recess 88 also serves to resist rotation,slipping and tilting. It is clear that the supporting member 32 may bereversed in position in the clamping mechanism 22, so that the grippingsurface 84 of the back gripping member 50 generally flatly engages flatside 4011 of the supporting member 32, and gripping surface 94 flatlyengages side 40a. The manner in which the clamping mechanism 22 holdsthe supporting member 32 substantially eliminates any tendency of thesupporting member 32 to become dislodged from or to shake free from thelyre 20, even under violent shaking or rocking.

As indicated principally in FIGS. 1 through 3, and 5, the mounting means24, which is adapted for removably mounting the clamping mechanism 22 toa clarinet or some other musical instrument (not shown) having agenerally cylindrical portion, comprises a stem and a generallyring-shaped spring member 122.

The stem 120, which may be of any convenient length, has a first end 124(FIGS. 3 and 11), mounted to the handle portion 54 of the back grippingmember 50, and a second end 126. At least the first end 124 of the stem120 is preferably of square cross section. To receive the first end 124of the stem 120, the handle portion 54 is formed with a slightlyoversize" square socket 128 (FIG. 11), and a conventional bowed springfastener 130 is inserted within the socket 128. When the first end 124of the stem 120 then is inserted within the socket 128, p

the bowed spring fastener 130 is flattened so as to press the first end124 of the stern 120 against the wall of the socket 128. Such a bowedspring fastener 130 has a prong 132 which serves to lock it in place inthe socket 128.

The generally ring-shaped spring member 122, which preferably is made ofspring steel, has two closely approximated ends 134 and 136 which tendto separate somewhat from each other. A tab piece 138 is integrallyconnected to one end 134 of the spring member 122. An open channel piece140 is integrallyconnected to the other end 136 of the springmember'122. It is preferred that the spring member 122, the tab piece138, and the channel piece 140 be formed in one piece. The spring member122 is adapted to be resiliently spread open and slipped into placearound a generally cylindrical portion of the musical instrument (notshown). It is adapted to generally tightly fit around any generallycylindrical body that is equal in size to or slightly larger than thenominal inside diameter of the spring member 122. A slightly elongatedhole 142 is formed in the tab piece 138 and a hole 144, which faces thehole 142, is formed in the channel piece 140. The channel piece 140 isadapted to receive the stem 120 which is bent at right angles (at 146)near its second end 126 and adapted to pass through the holes 144 and142, The second end 126 of the stem 120 is externally threaded.Fastening means for fastening the tab piece 138 and the channel piece140 to the second end 126 of the stem 120 comprises a conventionalknurled nut 148 adapted to engage the threaded second end 126 of thestem 120. Any other suitable fastening means may be used in place ofthis nut 148. The channel piece 140 is adapted to restrain the stem 120from twisting with respect to the spring member 122, and particularlywhen the stem has a cross section the same as the channel piece 140. Onesidewall 150 of the channel piece 140 may be extended with respect tothe other sidewall 152, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5. Theextended portion 154 of this sidewall may be bent at a right angle (at156) stem 120 and immobilize the stem 120 with respect to the channelpiece 140. Thereby the stem 120 will be immobilized even if the nut 148is loosened. This modification is considered to be within the scope ofthis invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second form of mounting means 160 which may be usedin place of the mounting means 24 to removably mount the clampingmechanism 22 to a musical instrument (not shown) having a generallycylindrical portion. The mounting means 160 comprises a stem 162 and agenerally ring-shaped spring member 164. The stem 162, which may be ofany convenient length, has a first end (not shown) which may be mountedto the handle portion 54 of the back gripping member 50 in the samemanner as the first end 124 of the stem 120 of the mounting means 24 isto be mounted, and a second end 166. The stem 162 is preferably ofsquare cross section overall. The generally ring-shaped spring member164 is similar to the generally ring-shaped spring member 122 of themounting means 24. That is, it has two closely approximated ends 168 and170; a tab piece 172 integrally connected to one end 168 of the springmember 164; an open channel portion 174 integrally connected to theother end 170 of the spring member 164; an elongated hole 176 formed inthe tab piece 172; and a hole 178 which faces the hole 176 and is formedin the channel piece 174. The channel piece 174 is adapted to receivethe stem 162 which is provided at its second end 166 with an internallythreaded lateral hole 180. Fastening means for fastening the tab piece172 and the to enclose the respect to the channel piece 174 in a mannersimilar to the manner in which the stem 162 (of the first form ofmounting means 24) may be immobilized with respect to the channeh;

piece 140.

In P16. 7 another form of mounting means 186 is shown. I

There is a similar ring-shaped spring member .188 having a tab 190integrally connected with one end 192 of the ring-shaped spring memberand having a tubular member 194 integrally connected with the other end196 of themember 188. .Stem

198 is square in cross section, corresponding to the cross section ofthe inside of the tubular member 194. A threaded member 200 is securedatone end in a hole 202 in the stern 198 and at its other end has anenlarged head 203. When the mounting means is assembled the stem 198 isclamped in the tubular member 194 and cannot be axially removed becausethe threaded member 200 extends through a hole 204 in the tubular memberand through an elongated hole 206 in the tab 190. The nut 208 which isassembled on the threaded member 200 hasa threaded bore 210 cooperatingwith the thread of threaded member 200 and has a larger bore 212 whichis slightly larger than the head 203 on the threaded member 200. Sincethe enlarged head 203 cannot pass through the threaded bore 210, nut 208cannot become separated from member 200 and become lost.

It will be understood that the clamping mechanism 22 may readily beemployed with other stems than the stems 120, 162 and 198 which areillustrated and described above. That is, the stem may have otherconfigurations and may also have its second end 126 of plain, square orother cross section. adapted for insertion in a socket of correspondingsquare (or other) cross section formed on, or fastened to, a musicalinstrument. This interchangeability with various stems permits the clamping mechanism to be employed with a number of different mounting meansand with a variety of musical instruments.

. It is apparent that other modifications and variations within thescope of thisinvention will be suggested by this disclosure to thoseskilled in the art.

1 claim:

v 1. A lyre adapted to hold a music holder, which music holder includesa generally rigid sheetlike supporting member having generally flatopposite surfaces with project means projecting from said respectivesurfaces near one edge portion of the supporting member and also havinga projection extending downwardly from its lower edge, said lyrecomprising a clamp ing mechanism for holding the supporting member, theclamping mechanism comprising an opposed pair of gripping mem bers oneof which gripping members has a shelf with a recess downwardly extendingfrom an intermediate portion of the shelf to receive said projectionwhen said supporting member rests on said shelf by its lower edge, saidgripping members -each having a gripping portion with a flat surface,and resilient means for biasing the gripping portions toward each other,the

respective flat surfaces of the gripping portions being adapted togenerally flatly engage and to be biased against the respectivegenerally flat opposite surfaces of the supporting member thereby tohold the supporting member, the respective gripping portions havingcooperating means for cooperating channel piece 174 to the second end166 of the stem 162 comwith and fitting about the projecting meansprojecting from said generally flat opposite surfaces of the supportingmember thereby to restrain the supporting member from'separatingmovement with respect to the clamping mechanism.

2. The lyre of claim 1, wherein the cooperating means comprise aperturesin the respective gripping portions, the apertures being adapted toreceive the projecting means on both surfaces of the music holder.

3. A lyre adapted to hold a music holder, which music holder includes agenerally rigid sheetlike supporting member having generally flatopposite surfaces and having projecting means projecting from saidrespective surfaces near one edge portion of the supporting member, saidlyre comprising a clamping mechanism for holding the supporting member,the clamping mechanism comprising an opposed pair of gripping members,each having a gripping portion with a flat surface,

and resilient means for biasing the gripping portions'toward each other,the respective flat surfaces of the gripping portions being adapted togenerally flatly engage and to be biased against the respectivegenerally flat opposite surfaces of the supporting member thereby tohold the supporting member, the respective gripping portions havingcooperating means for cooperating with and fitting about the projectingmeans projecting from said generally flat opposite surfaces of thesupporting member thereby to restrain the supporting member fromseparating movement with respect to the clamping mechanism, and the lyrefurther comprising projecting means in the form of a narrow horizontalrib projecting from one gripping member toward the other gripping memberand engaging the other gripping member when the pair of gripping membersare most completely urged toward each other by said resilient means,whereby a single sheet of music may be securely held.

4. The lyre of claim 3 wherein the resilient means serves both to biasthe flat surfaces of the gripping members toward each other and also tosecure the gripping members together.

5. The lyre of claim 4 wherein the resilient means comprises at leastone C-shaped spring.

6. The lyre of claim 5 wherein each gripping member provides a socketfor receiving one end of a C-shaped spring and has a recess extendingfrom said socket within which recess a portion of theC-shaped spring isreceived.

7. The lyre of claim 3 wherein the gripping members are so formed thatwhen they are separated, against the action of the resilient means, to aposition wherein the flat gripping surfaces are spaced apart thethickness of the supporting member of said music holder, said flatgripping surfaces are parallel to the respective flat opposite surfacesof the music holder.

8. The lyre of claim 3 further comprising a handle for each grippingmember with one of said handles having a socket, and a stern having oneend disposed in said socket and nonrotatable therein, theother end ofsaid stem having means adapted to secure it in nonrotational relation toa musical instrument.

9. The lyre of claim 8 wherein the means adapted to nonrotatably connectthe stem to a musical instrument comprises the other end of said stem, agenerally ring-shaped spring member having two closely approximatedseparable ends, a tab member integrally connected with one end of thespring member, a stem-receiving member integrally connected to the otherend of said spring member, and fastening means for connecting the taband stem-receiving members to said stern and for tightening saidring-shaped spring member about a generally cylindrical portion of amusical instrument,

10. A lyre adapted to hold a music holder, which music holder includes agenerally rigid sheetlike supporting member having generally flatopposite surfaces and having projecting means projecting from saidrespective surfaces near one edge portion of the supporting member, saidlyre comprising a clamping mechanism for holding the supporting member,the clamping mechanism comprising an opposed pair of gripping members,each having a gripping portion with a flat surface, one gripping-memberhaving a shelf providing an abutment surface on which the lower edge ofthe supporting member of the music holder may be supported, resilientmeans for biasing the gripping portions toward each other, and furthermeans by which one gripping member may be pivotally moved relative tothe other gripping member, said fulcrum means comprising at least oneintegral protrusion on one of the gripping members and an associatedrecess provided on the other gripping member, the respective flatsurfaces of the gripping portions being adapted to generally flatlyengage and to be biased against the respective generally flat oppositesurfaces of the supporting member thereby to hold the supporting member,the respective gripping portions having cooperating means forcooperating with and fitting about the projecting means projecting fromsaid generally flat opposite surfaces of the supporting memberthereby torestrain the supporting member from separating movement with respect tothe clamping mechanism, said integral rotrusion of the fulcrum meansproviding an abutment sur ace on which a sheet of music may besupported. 7

11. The lyre of claim 10 further comprising projecting means in the formof a narrow horizontal rib projecting from one gripping member towardthe other gripping member and generally engaging the other grippingmember when the pair of gripping members are most completely urgedtoward each other, whereby a single sheet of music may be securely held,and wherein the resilient means comprises at least one C shaped springthe opposite ends of which bear against outer sides of the grippingmembers approximately at the level of said horizontal rib.

